"I'm here just to play tennis": Diana Shnaider responds to Oleksandra Oliynykova's allegations at Roland Garros
WTA
Diana Shnaider dismissed a series of allegations made by Oleksandra Oliynykova after defeating the Ukrainian 7-5, 6-1 to reach the fourth round of Roland Garros, repeatedly insisting she was "here just to play tennis" rather than discuss politics or social media activity.
The Russian's press conference came days after Oliynykova used her own media appearance to present what she described as "receipts" concerning Shnaider's participation in Gazprom-sponsored exhibition events and interactions with content from Russian broadcaster Margarita Simonyan on social media.
Asked repeatedly about those claims following her victory, Shnaider said she had not followed Oliynykova's comments and showed little interest in engaging with the accusations. Instead, she maintained that her focus remained on her tennis and on reaching the second week of the French Open for the first time in her career.
While the victory secured Shnaider's best result at Roland Garros and guaranteed her return to the Top 20, with the 25th seed currently projected to rise to No. 19 in the live rankings, much of the discussion afterward centered on the controversy that had developed around the match rather than the tennis itself.
"I have no idea what she said"
Oliynykova had attracted attention before the match by publicly criticizing Shnaider's involvement in exhibitions linked to Gazprom and by highlighting social media activity she considered politically significant. The Ukrainian repeatedly referenced photographs and screenshots during her own press conference, framing the issue as something that extended beyond sport.
Shnaider, however, said she entered the match unaware of the comments. The Russian explained that her preparation had been entirely focused on tennis and revealed she had neither followed the discussion nor paid attention to the criticism directed at her before stepping onto court.
"I honestly have no idea what she said. Yesterday I was just practicing and getting ready before my match, so yeah, haven't heard anything, I don't know anything about what she said, wasn't interested at all."
Diana Shnaider at Gazprom exhibition
The 21-year-old also dismissed suggestions that the surrounding atmosphere had affected her preparation. Asked about reports of additional security around the court, Shnaider said she had not noticed anything unusual.
"I actually haven't noticed extra security. I just went on court as a normal match. As my coach says, I'm playing not against the opponent, I'm playing against the ball, because the ball is the same."
Shnaider defends exhibition appearances
One of Oliynykova's central accusations concerned Shnaider's participation in exhibition events sponsored by Gazprom. When the subject was raised directly, the Russian did not address the broader political criticism but explained her reasoning for taking part in those events.
"I'm traveling all year round, I'm not seeing my family or my friends, and I have the only one opportunity to play in front of my family and in front of my friends, just to spend a little more time at home,” the former world No. 11 said. “I see it as an opportunity just to show some good tennis for my family, and I mean it's the only opportunity, so I gotta use it."
The Russian was also questioned about claims relating to her social media activity, including allegations that she had liked posts from Russian broadcaster Margarita Simonyan. Shnaider insisted she did not know exactly what Oliynykova had been referring to and declined to offer any detailed response.
"Yeah, I guess I'm not gonna like any comments or any videos anymore on Instagram,” Shnaider added. “But again, honestly, I don't know what she found, and I'm here just to play tennis, not talking about Instagram or video likes or anything else."
"I'm here just to speak about tennis"
As the questioning continued, Shnaider remained consistent in her approach. Several opportunities were presented for her to expand on the political issues raised by Oliynykova, yet the Russian repeatedly declined and returned the conversation to her on-court achievements in Paris.
That position was most evident when reporters asked whether she wished to publicly express her views on the war in Ukraine. Rather than engage with the topic, Shnaider made it clear she did not intend to discuss geopolitical matters during the tournament.
"I'm not gonna speak anything about the situation,” repited the 24-year-old player. "I'm here just to speak about tennis and about my game, about the second week of the French Open, just to enjoy making it for the first time, and that's it, just enjoy the win today."
Whether that stance will end the discussion remains uncertain. What is clear is that after advancing to the last 16 and securing a return to the Top 20, Shnaider showed no willingness to engage in the wider argument initiated by her opponent, choosing instead to keep the focus firmly on tennis as her Roland Garros campaign continues.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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